Palace to cooperate with Senate probe of 2 ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects

Malacañang is ready to cooperate with a proposed Senate investigation of two massive infrastructure projects under the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” initiative.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, however, expressed hope that Sen. Leila de Lima, who filed a resolution seeking the inquiry, was not merely engaged in political grandstanding.

In a statement, Panelo defended the P23-billion North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway connector road project and the P171-billion North-South Commuter Railway Project.

“We expect our relevant heads to attend the hearing, if and when they are called as resource persons, not only as a courtesy to a coequal branch of the government but also to inform the public that these projects are definitely in order,” he said.

He made the remarks following De Lima’s filing of Senate Resolution No. 927, which seeks an inquiry into the two projects.

De Lima wants to investigate the impending demolition of thousands of residents’ homes in 38 Manila communities, which will be affected by the two projects.

No consultation

The senator claimed that the residents were not adequately consulted by the concerned government agencies on right of way negotiations.

Panelo said feasibility studies on the two projects had been conducted, “including the general impact on the economy and the living conditions of affected residents.”

The feasibility studies were conducted before the construction of these projects was approved as standard procedure, he added.

“Hence, we are certain that agencies of the government involved have taken the concerns raised,” Panelo said.

Malacañang cautioned De Lima against using the issues for political mileage and scoring brownie points.

“Election season has arrived and with the President’s ratings remaining high, the political opposition’s recourse is to score political brownie points by foisting demolition and relocation, both gut issues on the part of the urban poor, to attack the President,” Panelo said. —Julie M. Aurelio